The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-06
IN BOTH HOUSES.
The SolOns Settling Down
to Business.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
The Representatives Pass Two AP
Precipitation Bills-Customs Service
New Senate Bifls-Eto.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, January 5.--Among
the pa pers transmitted to the Senate
were three reports from the Secretary
OF War. in response to q resolution OF
INQUIRY as to the change of engineers
on improvements at the mouth OF
Columbia River.
Also various memorials OF public
bodies in favor of the passage OF the
interest ate commerce bill.
Culluu presented a memorial OF the
Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce; also
the proceedings of the railroad coRven-
ton On the same subject.
Mitchell Pennsylvania, from the
committee on pensions, reported OIL
granting a pension of 5000 year TO
the widow of General John A. Logan,
and asked for immediate consideration,
but under objection by Coke, the Dill
went over till tomorrow
kt2 o'clock the Senate took up the
conference report on the Interstate
Commerce. bill and was addressed by
Platte. He opposed the conference re-
mort and advocated its rejection solely
Eor the reason that it prohibited pool
ing In all other respects ne favored
the compromise bill.
Mcpherson offered a resolution
calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
for Statement of the indebtedness of
the Pacific railroad company to govern
neDt on June LIST, 1887, with the details
of all payments on the same; also as to
the sums due or to become due (princi-
pal and INTEREST," under the existing law
seyerally and what difference will result
to the Treasury if the pending Senate
funding bill should become law.
HOar moved to amend the resolution
by adding to it these words, land a
statement of all existing questions in
regard to the amount of such debts in
dispute between said companies land
government
Mcpherson argued against the pro-
posed amendment as tending towards
delay, and suggested that if HOar
would promise not to bring up the bill
at the present session he would with
draw the resolution.
Hoar expressed his great surprise at
the proposition, but offered to agree
not to call up the bill until the informa-
ton asked for can be obtained.
Mcpherson thanked the Senator even
for that concession. He asserted the
effect of the funding bill would be to
give as donation to these Pacific rail-
roads more money than the entire
value Of all the lands reclaimed under
the forfeiture bills for the last three
years.
Hoar regarded this as very extra
ordinary proceeding. This bill had
been reported in its general features
last Congress. A debt amounting to
about $3.50, 900 600 would be due to gov
~
average of eleven or twelve years from
this time an equal amount would be
due by the companies on first
government debt was subordinate.
The judiciary committee was satisfied
it would not be eXpedient for govern
ment at the end OF that time to drive
these companies into bankruptcy, and
to have them sold in the market on one
hand, or operated by government it.
self on the other hand. If there was
any Senator who differed with the COM
mittee on either of these propositions,
he should be surprised to learn the
Iact. II the companies could be as
Sured that government would not as
Sert Its authority, and would allow
them TO make arrangements to raise a
new loan to pay off the government
loan, they would probably do that, and
90 on; but now they could not do it.
The funding bill was recommended b.
the present administration.
Edmunds suggested that all the in
formation asked for IN the resolution
and amendment was to be found in the
report OF the railroad, commissioner,
stated very clearly and very well. AS
to the opinion of the Secretary of the
treasury as to the effect of the fund
ing Dill, that was q matter of simple
arithmetic calculation which any one
could make for himself.
Alter further discussion in which Nc
Emerson spoke of frauds in connection
with the original stock and Hoar
showed how the stock was now chiefly
IN the hands of small owners. and said
maj discussion at this time could only
De n the interest of spectators. the
matter went over without any action
until tomorrow.
Inc Senate then took Up the inter
STATE commerce bill.
house.